Mike and I just got an incredible opportunity to not only eat lunch at one of the local schools (like we do almost every Wednesday), but, at the invitation of a couple of students, to go and sit in on a religion class at this school.  We were pretty nervous at first since we weren't sure we were even supposed to be there, but once the class started and we got to know the teacher a little better (who seems to be doing a great job in challenging the students), we had some very interesting conversation!  Part of where the conversation went is in how traditional, stale, and boring Christianity in the South can be, specifically in Montgomery.   It seems that to be a follower of Christ in the South, you have to be Republican, Middle Class (at least), and go to Church every Sunday (which I think is a good thing by the way).   And people who are outside of those ranges, like a Democrat for example (note: I am an Independent), are looked at and talked to differently.  I could name several examples off the top of my head.

However, the bigger issue here is not what a follower of Christ looks like, but how we as Christians constantly detain our Universe-Creating, Big God by handcuffing him with our own limitations and viewpoints of what He should or shouldn't look like or do.  In Judges 13:16, Samson's parents try to "detain" the angel of the Lord to stay with them and continue to explain how to raise Samson, but the angel won't be detained, the angel has other work and must continue to move on according to God's Will.  On the Mount of Transfiguration, in Matthew 17, Peter wants to stay on the mountaintop with the Transfigured Jesus and his friends (Moses--the Law, and Elijah--the Prophets), but Jesus won't be enshrined on any mountaintop, He must  always be doing the will of the Father and moving forward.  God's Call and Will don't always include things that will bring glory to us, but continuing to live into His Call, according to His Will, will always bring glory to Him! 

God will not, and can not, be detained, boxed, shackled, or conformed to any image.  He is always bigger than our image and view of Him, and at the exact moment we think we have Him figured out, He will break whatever mold we've made of Him--no matter how good we may think it is!  Think about it this way...you will never know all that God has to offer and give because He is infinite, and so is all He has to offer and give, and we will spend eternity experiencing Him in new ways!  That is a big God!  One of my mentors and friends, Morgan Morrow, said it perfectly in a comment on another blog post:

         "It helps me to remember that God is not a bigger version of us. He is not even a MUCH BIGGER VERSION of 
          us...He is completely Other than us and so is His love. He is inviting us to day-by-day, one-stumble-after
          another, learn to walk in that love.

          This is not just an adventure, it is THE adventure. Everything else is boring without it."